5 Lesser-Known Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

Posted on by Jordan Soblick

The symptoms of type 2 tend to develop gradually. You won’t go to bed not having diabetes only to wake up with the disease the following day. But after a while, the most common signs of diabetes, such as constant thirst and frequent urination, will become unmistakable and unavoidable. But there are plenty of more subtle and lesser-known indications of type 2 diabetes that many people won’t recognize as warning signs. Some of these symptoms may mimic other, less serious conditions and give folks a false sense of comfort. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five people with diabetes are unaware they have it.

But whether symptoms are obvious or under the radar, recognizing the signs of type 2 diabetes and obtaining a diagnosis as early as possible will you get the treatment you need and motivate you to make the lifestyle and dietary changes that can keep the symptoms and complications of type 2 diabetes to a minimum.

Here are five common but less well-known symptoms of type 2 diabetes to keep an eye out for:

  • Chronic yeast infections. High blood sugar levels lead to lower effectiveness for our immune systems, making infections more likely. Chronic vaginal yeast infections are particularly more likely in women with diabetes because the extra sugar in the blood encourages yeast to grow. Other types of recurrent infections — such as bladder and urinary tract infections — can also be signs of diabetes.
  • Blurred vision. Diabetes damages blood vessels throughout the body, including vessels in the retina, which is the light-sensitive layer of tissue in the back of your eye. The damage to your eyes caused by diabetic retinopathy starts when sugar damages the small blood vessels that go to your retina, causing them to bleed or leak fluid. This can lead to cloudy or blurred vision and, if left untreated, can cause cataracts, glaucoma, and blindness.
  • Erectile dysfunction. A 2017 study found that about 66 percent of men with type 2 diabetes experienced sexual performance issues, and men with diabetes are about 3.5 times more likely to experience erectile dysfunction compared to men without diabetes.
  • Slow-healing cuts. If you get a scrape or cut that seems to be taking a longer time to heal than usual, it could be because you have extra sugar in your blood that can slow down the wound healing process and leave you more vulnerable to infection. That is why surgeons often have patients undergo diabetes testing prior to a procedure.
  • Mood swings. If you find yourself more irritable or your emotions are all over the map, diabetes may be part of the cause. Not only can diabetes bring fatigue, which doesn’t help our moods, but high blood sugar also affects the brain and lead to more intense mood swings

Continuous Glucose Monitoring: A New Way For People With Type 2 Diabetes To Monitor and Manage Blood Sugar

Individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes learn quickly the diet and lifestyle changes they need to make to stay healthy. One key aspect of living with type 2 diabetes is getting frequent, accurate blood sugar level measurements. That used to mean pricking a finger multiple times a day to obtain a sample. Now, Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) can make finger-pricking a thing of the past for many diabetes patients. CGM is a tested, safe, reliable, and accurate transceiver device that can help some individuals with type 2 diabetes monitor their blood sugar levels 24 hours a day without interrupting their day to obtain a sample.

Contact us today to see if you qualify for CGM and access our guide to continuous glucose monitoring.

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If you are not insured, or have a high deductible health insurance plan, you can still purchase the Freestyle Libre Reader and Sensors at extremely competitive prices. Prices starting as low as $99 per month

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*Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol, when symptoms do not match system readings when you suspect readings may be in accurate, or when you experience symptoms that may be due to high or low blood glucose.

Reference 1: Data on file. Abbott Diabetes Care. 2, FreeStyle Libre 14 day User’s Manual

Indications and Important Safety Information

FreeStyle Libre and FreeStyle Libre 14 day Flash Glucose Monitoring systems are continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices indicated for replacing blood glucose testing and detecting trends and tracking patterns aiding in the detection of episodes of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, facilitating both acute and long-term therapy adjustments in persons (age 18 and older) with diabetes. The systems are intended for single patient use and require a prescription.

CONTRAINDICATIONS: Remove the sensor before MRI, CT scan, X-ray, or diathermy treatment.

WARNINGS/LIMITATIONS: Do not ignore symptoms that may be due to low or high blood glucose, hypoglycemic unawareness, or dehydration. Check sensor glucose readings with a blood glucose meter when Check Blood Glucose symbol appears, when symptoms do not match system readings, or when readings are suspected to be inaccurate. The system does not have alarms unless the sensor is scanned, and the system contains small parts that may be dangerous if swallowed. The system is not approved for pregnant women, persons on dialysis, or critically-ill population. Sensor placement is not approved for sites other than the back of the arm and standard precautions for transmission of blood borne pathogens should be taken. The built-in blood glucose meter is not for use on dehydrated, hypotensive, in shock, hyperglycemic-hyperosmolar state, with or without ketosis, neonates, critically-ill patients, or for diagnosis or screening of diabetes. When using FreeStyle LibreLink app, access to a blood glucose monitoring system is required as the app does not provide one. Review all product information before use or contact Abbott Toll Free (855-632-8658) or visit www.freestylelibre.us for detailed indications for use and safety information.html. . FreeStyle, Libre, and related brand marks are trademarks of Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. in various jurisdictions. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2018 Abbott. ADC-09691 vLO 10/18

*The FreeStyle LibreLink app and the FreeStyle Libre 14 day reader have similar but not identical features. Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol, when symptoms do not match system readings, when you suspect readings may be inaccurate, or when you experience symptoms that may be due to high or low blood glucose.

The FreeStyle Libre 2 app and the FreeStyle Libre 2 reader have similar but not identical features. Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol and when your glucose alarms and readings from the system do not match symptoms or expectations

‡‡‡Based on the sensor being replaced once every 14 days, and scanned at least once every 8 hours.

§§§Glucose readings are not available during 1-hour warm-up, when sensor is too hot or too cold, when you see an error or "LO" or "HI" message, or no current glucose reading